To blog or not to blog?

[Rudyard K]

Originally Posted by WTF

That was a bit long winded, sorry

Who are you trying to kid.

[RachaelBenedict]

Thanks- that and the other feedback pushed me over to re-posting my blog... The mental real estate and connections is applicable psychology for any industry.

I really appreciate those who have been doing this alot longer than I have and your first hand experience and taking the time to share it.... also the honest feedback from the guys
In this world I'd thought twice of blogging, because of the reasons I've already stated, and wasn't sure if the social media stuff I read on Mashable and Wired is equally applicable and relevant to the hobby. (recently read: http://www.wired.com/techbiz/it/maga...urrentPage=all and http://mashable.com/2010/11/05/calcu...-social-media/ )

I had thought that the "keeping in touch" was as effectively accomplished thru my newsletter, and I keep a brief record of brief "site updates and announcements" on my "welcome" page... but beyond the SEO (which was my original primary reason for blogging), the reasons to blog look quite compelling.

I tend to over think things... but do like writing!

Originally Posted by Lauren Summerhill

I'll explain my perspective. It's not that I'm right and you're wrong, this comes down to marketing philosophy.

A true brand represents something that is real. Part of building a brand is Accuracy, the other part is Mental Real Estate. Looking at this from both the perspective of entertainment (which this can legitimately be classified as) and online marketing.

In both industries the slogan is: Content is King!

Always give people a reason to come back, even if they aren't spending money. What you win is mental real estate in the persons mind. You give them reasons to think about you, when seemingly unrelated incidents happen. You write a blog about a German movie, somewhere in life they encounter an article or conversation about European cinema, and you for a brief moment cross their mind for a brief moment. So there's associations building there, that can win a person's sincere interest and this may eventually lead to direct interaction.

Now, I limit my image content for several reasons. I want to rotate my galleries so there's always something new, I use my pictures in my blogs, and I don't want to look like a porn site. There are still a lot of images, but there's a direct effort not to have the same feel. I walk away from a photo shoot with 500 images, about 250 are damn good. For each set I won't put up more then 8. So I have hundreds of pictures left over - I edit them as eye candy features in my blogs, and I rotate the best pictures in my galleries. I don't put up 250 pictures because that's what porn sites do, so you can just sit there and spend hours going through pictures.

So I don't make all content available, but I take the best, and I make sure there's always something new to look at somewhere. It might be pictures, it might an addition to my city guide listing travel finds, it might be a blog entry, an article or poem I found - but the site is never static. So even those who have known you for years, wonder what's going on in your life from time to time, and check back. The moment opportunity presents itself, they see you. You haven't become a stranger to them, they never really lost touch, and you didn't have to directly communicate, spending hours answering emails.

By that method alone it's possible if someone can only see you once or twice a year they will, for many many years. It's another way of tapping into the concept of regulars, one that is often sadly over looked. Good people you know and can trust, coming back. So you limit the need to meet new people as much as possible, increase stability without being overly dependent on your main arrangements (or regulars), and not being dependent on meeting people for first dates.

It's all a fine balance, I think. Success does not come without effort, and your main investment people expect from you, is yourself.

[ClairJordan]

Always give people a reason to come back, even if they aren't spending money. What you win is mental real estate in the persons mind. You give them reasons to think about you, when seemingly unrelated incidents happen. You write a blog about a German movie, somewhere in life they encounter an article or conversation about European cinema, and you for a brief moment cross their mind for a brief moment. So there's associations building there, that can win a person's sincere interest and this may eventually lead to direct interaction.


You are the oldest soul I have ever known. Are you sure you are
20-something? Your wisdom exceeds your years on the planet, gf.

-From a huge fan-

[Guest083011]

Originally Posted by Lauren Summerhill

You write a blog about a German movie, somewhere in life they encounter an article or conversation about European cinema, and you for a brief moment cross their mind for a brief moment.

Das Boot!

Originally Posted by Lauren Summerhill

Now, I limit my image content for several reasons. I want to rotate my galleries so there's always something new, I use my pictures in my blogs, and I don't want to look like a porn site.

Originally Posted by Lauren Summerhill

It's all a fine balance, I think. Success does not come without effort, and your main investment people expect from you, is yourself.

Lauren if you get eight great shots out of 250 that is a great percentage and obviously working with a shooter who has an eye for the picture (very hard to do, but when you see a photog who is an artist, they can have a ton of okay shots but it is the gems that leap out from the page or screen that set that photog and model apart).

And you, Lauren, treat the blog as part of the job. It requires attention and diligence to update, refresh and renew the content. We can see that when a job is well done it reflects in the finished product whether a blog or time behind closed doors. Hence Lauren on my bucket list.

[Katy Alexander]

I think it is very similar to designing your own web site if it is something you enjoy doing it will show( btw you have a very nice site ). It can also be a great way for people to learn more about you, attracting the clients who are right for you and discouraging the ones who are not.

Just like with a web site I do not think that a blog is a necessity in this business, but at least from my experience I have found that both my site, and blog have improved the connection I have with my clients for the better.

[WTF]

Originally Posted by Becky

I have found that both my site, and blog have improved the connection I have with my clients for the better.

Maybe you are just better and not giving credit where most of the credit is due!

[FLWrite]

Originally Posted by Becky

... It can also be a great way for people to learn more about you, attracting the clients who are right for you and discouraging the ones who are not.

... I have found that both my site, and blog have improved the connection I have with my clients for the better.

I agree with this. Charles just posted an interesting topic about how to get to know a lady's particular areas of expertise. The blog is a great way and I've always read them when available. Not only is the content a window into the soul of the author but the writing style gives great, great insight into the wit of the woman.

[Alex Lieberman]

I love to Blog but I would never use it as a form of advertising as I think my blog pisses a lot of people off. I find it easier to be honest under an alias. I think many of us do.....afterall who uses there real name in this "hobby"?

Alex

[ForumPoster]

Blog is my way to make sure I can convey certain information without clattering my site too much. When I am planning trips, or introducing new packages, or mention Ladies I enjoy working with, I do it via blog entries.

Occasionally I write something not related to those topics, but i have to very careful about it. I can't really share work experiences due to discretion and private escapades have to be off the blog for same reasons.

Lina

[guest012511]

As Lauren, Becky and Lina has pointed out, the blog is just an extension of our interests and personalities.


I blog whenever I feel the urge.

I write about everything from politics to pink nail polish...and at times ramble on about nothing specific.

I also try to keep things fun, lighthearted and really appreciate it when (potential) Gentlemen friend's shares with me that he's kept on with my writing.

So Rachel (Hello by the way), write about whatever blows your hair back and the SEO's will follow.



Cheers,
H

appreciate me for my glamour - love me for my grammar.

[Nina Rae]

Originally Posted by Lovely Victoria

You know when you have a great date? And you so want to tell someone about it? You want to tell someone (and maybe brag a little) about how charming your date was, how delectable the meal was, and how mind-boggling the after dinner activity was? But I can't. I can't exactly say, "mother dearest, I've been moonlighting and let me tell you about this great gentleman I met." So that's why I blog. It's an outlet.

Advantages - Most of my dates (new or established) read my blog regularly. And they remember things I wrote about what I like, what I want to do, how I like to be seduced etc....

Disadvantages - I have to anonymize (is that a word?) people and places. There is a time lag between a real event and the post....

+1

I write both because I love to do it, and because I like that people can make the choice as to whether they want to know more about me. If they do, its readily available and changes as I change. Sure, I use the anonymity of my "hobby" name everywhere, but its all true and all me.

[Nina Rae]

oh, and Hannah...Darling, that is a very sexy avatar you have there! Loving it.

[RiverOfAlaska]

I have a "blog" mostly for the RSS, because it seemed like the best/easiest way to essentially achieve a newsletter function. I don't use it as a real blog because it just seems so overwhelming to try to portray every aspect of my personality, and I feel like if I write about one thing at a time I'm limiting myself in the minds of my readers. A little mystery suits me. But after reading Lauren's genius post... well, maybe I should start blogging.

For what it's worth tho, I had a very popular blog (5k+ hits/day) for a couple years and never developed a real stalker, just an internet one.

[Madame X]

My only real stalker had never read my blog... he was dumb as a sack of potatoes. A clingy, self entitled, jealous sack of potatoes at that. That was a couple of years ago - I try to steer clear of spoiled produce these days.

I write because I like doing it. There are some things that are on my mind that can only be said appropriately to people in this lifestyle, and I like sharing! I care nothing about SEO, and as a matter of fact I try to block as much unrelated traffic as I can. I care very little about advertising, although I do point out from time to time where I'll be and when, so that the gentlemen who frequent my blog might notice if I'm going to be in their area. Conversion rate? I would rather meet one man with whom I can have an actual conversation than 25 guys I can only make small talk with. I've seen some guys that don't read it... the guys I see most often usually do.

All the talk about branding, consumer outreach, mental real estate, etc... these things take up so much of my time at the day job. I'd much rather leave all that behind and find some real self actualization here!

~Mme X~

[FLWrite]

Originally Posted by Madame X

... I try to steer clear of spoiled produce these days.

...

So you no longer see men?